Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-10-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular correspondent)

Jul LCuIiCSpOuuOh~J
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Oct. 3, 1887.
Perhaps could not better begin this letter
than by giving a brief description of the ele-
gantly appointed and equipped train that
is bearing the Presidential party on their
great Western and Southern tour, about
which so much had been said and written.
The train consists of three Pullman cars,
connected in such way that one can walk
from one end to the other without opening
door or being exposed to the weather or
other discomfort, and the coaches are richly
and fashionably furnished and upholstered
among the articles being beautiful bed
room, centre-table, inlaid writing desks,
sofas, rocking chairs, barber chairs, and
several large mirrors-ro say nothing Uf a.
bathroom and smoking compartment, and
to cap the climax, the cars are heated by
steam from the locomotive and furnished
with electric lights from tl.c-.n-rrr- -o,'res
Washington has certainly never before seen
such splendidly outfitted train. Geo. NJ.
Pullman gave his personal attention TO the
details, and the outlay is said TO represent
capital of $500, 900 and it is further stated
that the President will be at an expense Of
500, 900 for the trip. The party consisted
of the President and Mrs. Cleveland, Private
Secretary Lamont, two or three personal
friends of Mr. Cleveland, and three repre-
sentatives of the press. A great crowd as
sembled at the Baltimore and Potomac de-
pot to see the distinguished travelersdepart
Secretaries Bayard, Endicott and Whit
ney being of the number. The floral favors
to Mrs. Cleveland were lavish and rarely
beautiful.
An important act of the President before
leaving was the appointment of Secretary
Bayard and Messrs. VIM. L. Putnam, Of
Maine, and Jas. B. Angel, Of Michigan,
to act rs commissioners in the adjustment
of the question of the fisheries troubles with
our northern neighbors. All of these gentle
men have had sufficient diplomatic train
ing in positions of public trust to warrant
the belief, that If satisfactory settlement
of the international controversy is possible,
the country may confidently expect such q
result at their hands, consummation de-
voutly to be wished.
AT the last Cabinet meeting the financial
situation was exhaustively discussed, with
the purpose to provide against possible re-
currence of the recent stringency in the COM
mercial world, and a decided difference OF
opinion was developed regarding the authori-
ty of the Secretary of the Treasury TO pur-
chase bonds not required for the sinking
fund-the result being that 1t was de-
termined to refer the matter to the decision
of the Attorney General, in case there
should apparently arise the necessity of such
action on the part Of the Secretary, to re-
lieve the money market.
1t appears that the monetary alarm was
more matter of imagination than reality,
generally speaking, for the very simple
reason that the volume of currency was in
creased seventy five million dollars last
year which goes to show that the business
interests of the country are in healthy
condition.
1t is calculated at the Treasury that the
Government has saved in interest by the
prepayment of bonds under the circular Of
last mouth the handsome sum Of 80, 200, 900
mot to mention the probably immense
financial losses it prevented individuals
from suffering.
The Naval Board has concluded to con-
struct at Norfolk the 6,OOO ton battleship,
authorized by the act of Congress at cost
of 50, 376, 900, which is S125, 900 less than the
appropriation provides. 1t will take about
eighteen months to finish the work on this
great monster of the deep.
The organization of department clerks in
to state Associations, Of which there are
several. has been the occasion of one Of the
most sensational episodes of the present Ad-
ministration. These organizations partake
of a political as we'll as a social character
the real object being to protect the members
in their official positions. On being In
yited to address the Illinois Democratic As
sociation. Civil Service Commissioner Oberly
not only declined to aocepa the compliment,
but wrote the "Suckers' "a long letter, in
forming them that the existence of their
is a violation of the civil ser
vice act, and demonishing the members
that for such infraction they are liable to
the penalties Of the law.